The white and red shirts or the white and the red shirt

Question

Hi. Please tell which is correct. If both are correct, is there a preferred one for you, between the two?

Early in the year, he bought one white and one red shirt. As the year went on, the white and red shirts / the white and the red shirt got torned, and he had to get rid of them.

Also, I am sorry to add this question on, but please help. Do we need to put the word "by" for the example sentence below?

You can answer it (by) saying, "No, I don't have it."

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

AnonymousDo we need to put the word "by" for the example sentence below?You can answer it (by) saying, "No, I don't have it."

No. Personally, I would say it, though.

AnonymousEarly in the year, he bought one white and one red shirt. As the year went on, the white and red shirts / the white and the red shirt got ~~torned,~~ torn, and he had to get rid of them.

This question is based on the completely artificial and/or erroneous premise that there is some requirement to repeat the information about the colors of the shirts later in the text.

As the year went on, the shirts got torn and he had to get rid of them.

CJ

Phxsunstoon · Answer

AnonymousAs the year went on, the white and red shirts / the white and the red shirt got torned, and he had to get rid of them.

It is a little redundant to repeat the color of the shirts, but it is not incorrect to write it this way; however, As the year went on, the white and the red shirt got torn... is correct.

Reasoning:

If the sentence reads "Early in the year, he bought one white and one red shirt. As the year went on, the white and red shirts got torn, and he had to get rid of them," this is what we would analyze from the sentence.

1. Early in the year, he bought one white and one red shirt= He has two shirts, one white and one red.
2. As the year went on, the white and red shirts got torn, and he had to get rid of them=There is another shirt, and the color of the shirt is white and red. What you want to say is the white and the red shirt got torn=There are two shirts (one white and one red) and they both got torn.

AnonymousYou can answer it (by) saying, "No, I don't have it."

It is not natural to leave out the (by) in this sentence.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you. Let's me give you another example (in similar structure). Which is correct, one or two or three, assuming there is a need to repeat the condition of the cars, "used and new"? I think the meaning of numbers 1 and 2 would be clear by context and thus can be used by a person if he or she wants to. Thank you for your help in advance.

Early in 19XX, he bought one used and one new car. As the years passed, 1) the used and new cars / 2) his used and new cars / 3) the used and the new car got crushed, being scrapped (sold as scrap metal) later on, and in 20XX, he had to purchase two cars.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousEarly in 19XX, he bought one used and one new car. As the years passed, 1) the used and new cars / 2) his used and new cars / 3) the used and the new car got crushed, being scrapped (sold as scrap metal) later on, and in 20XX, he had to purchase two cars.

Early in 19XX, he bought one used and one new car. As the years passed, both cars got crushed, being scrapped (sold as scrap metal) later on, and in 20XX, he had to purchase two (more) cars.

All three of your versions are grammatically correct, but nobody would use them.

CJ

The white and red shirts or the white and the red shirt

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